Danica Patrick on getting back in an Indy car: 'I am for sure nervous'

IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello breaks down IndyCar's new exclusive TV right deal with NBC and discusses why it's big step in the right direction for the series.
Jim Ayello/IndyStar

Race car driver Danica Patrick poses in front of her No. 13 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Longtime sponsor GoDaddy reunited with Patrick for the final two races of her career, the Daytona 500 and May's Indianapolis 500, otherwise known as the "Danica Double.”(Photo: Photo provided by GoDaddy)

INDIANAPOLIS -- For Danica Patrick, the wait to jump back into an Indy car cockpit for the first time since 2011 continues -- and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Patrick, who will close out her racing career in May's 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500, was supposed to be on track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week, but IndyCar postponed oval testing because of inclement weather.

Though she is itching to get back on track, Patrick admitted she's a little nervous about piloting an Indy car again and didn't mind that the tests were delayed.

"It's not that disappointing," Patrick said with a laugh Wednesday morning. "First and foremost, I am for sure nervous. So, you know, like anything when you're nervous, waiting a little longer is like, OK."

Patrick also appreciated that the tests being pushed back to the end of the month will give teams and drivers a better chance of gathering information that is more applicable to the conditions they'll be driving in come the end of May.

"I'm excited, for sure, to get back out there, but nervous is still nervous," Patrick added.

Despite her nerves, the longtime autoracing superstar has continued to make preparations for the final race of her career. She's spent some time over the past couple weeks meeting with the Ed Carpenter Racing team -- reminiscing with familiar faces and greeting new ones -- studying her steering wheel and taking some time to visit IMS to pose for photos in front of her No. 13 ECR Chevrolet, which she unveiled to the world on Wednesday.

With its bright green Go Daddy paint scheme, the eye-catching car is a throwback to Patrick cars of old. As is the firesuit she helped design and the helmet she'll be wearing.

"How can I not be getting nostalgic?" Patrick chuckled. "This is my last race. I haven't been in an Indy car since 2011. So nostalgia is sort of all it is right now. It's the full-circle story."

Along with longtime sponsor GoDaddy featured prominently on Danica Patrick’s No. 13 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, there also will be logos displaying Patrick’s design label, “Warrior by Danica Patrick,” her new book, “Pretty Intense,” and her vineyard, “Somnium.”(Photo: Photo provided by GoDaddy.)

One part of Patrick's story is a long history of success at the 500, where she has recorded six top-10 finishes in seven tries, including a third-place run in 2009 where she came heartbreakingly close to walking away with an historic win.

While Patrick has said on numerous occasions that driving off into the sunset an Indianapolis 500 champion would be the ideal way to go out, she left the door open a smidgen for a potential return if she were to finish agonizingly close once again.

"Never say never, because I never really thought I'd do the Indy 500 again," Patrick said. "But being that close is so frustrating. ... I'm not going to say I'd come back, and finishing (second or third) would be a great way to finish my career."